Tri-Service

A Soldier's Tribute: Major-General Alastair Duncan CBE DSO

Written and delivered by Lt Col Mick Haynes at the funeral of Major-General Alastair Duncan CBE DSO

I have known General Alastair for over 43 years from the time he first arrived at 1 PWO in Palace Bks, Northern Ireland as a 2Lt and I was a newly promoted LCpl. 18 years later he was Commanding Officer and I was his Regimental Sergeant Major.

In a battalion young officers are quickly sussed out by the rank and file and it was clear to us soldiers from the start that he was a star.

Our paths crossed many times over the years in the battalion as we moved up the ranks, and we got to know each other very well. On first meeting he could come across as restrained, tending to the serious, that is until his quiet smile would appear and before you knew it he would be in full flow, be you a senior officer or private soldier, you would become an instant fan.

He worked this magic on all his soldiers with ease and they felt ‘at ease’ when with him. He was fun to be with, combine this with his outstanding ability and innate leadership it is no wonder that he was held in the highest regard by his soldiers. That feeling was reciprocated; he cared very deeply for us all and our families.

I was due to return to 1 PWO as RSM in October 1990, following my tour of duty as RSM British Liaison Team in Kuwait. However following the Iraqi invasion in August my family and I found ourselves being used as human shields at a communications site near Baghdad. Elaine and our 2 boys were allowed to leave 2nd September.

By November the Iraqis allowed us to make telephone calls. I got a message to call a number in Germany. I was very surprised to be talking to the then Lt Col Duncan, who had just taken over as CO 1 PWO. He was his usual self.

‘RSM’ he said ‘I can only hold the position of Regimental Sergeant Major open for you until June next year. After which you’ll have to take your commission… you have 6 months to get yourself back if you want to be RSM 1 PWO; I want you, so get a move on’.

The conversation did wonders for my morale; though the seeming difficulty of convincing Saddam I had an urgent Regimental appointment and needed to leave was problematic. As it was I was home in time for Christmas.

I reported for duty in February, mentally fragile recovering from PTSD. Alastair was very supportive, though not directly questioning me he had asked his driver, Cpl Grey:

‘Do you find the RSM a little strange?’

I got this from Cpl Grey, during a routine chat about the CO’s schedule.

I had to ask… ‘Cpl Grey what did you say?’

He replied ‘I told him you are strange sir’.

‘How was the CO with that?’ I queried.

Cpl Grey took a breath ‘I think he’s glad that he isn’t the only one that thinks so, sir’

Alastair understood that my family and I needed time to adjust after the trauma of Iraq. Battalion life and a busy routine were needed to get us back on track. Elaine, as RSM’s wife, took on running the Wives Club ramping up for the forthcoming NI tour, with his absolute support and he let me crack on with the job. There was no time for introspection as training began right away; we deployed to Belfast in November 1991.

In 180 plus days the Battalion had over 200 reported serious incidents – shootings, nail bomb attacks, Improvised Explosive Devices, riots, weapons finds. At times with reinforcements from other units our strength went up to 1,200 men with our area of responsibility covering all of West and North Belfast. The official mission was to assist the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the RUC, the then NI police force, in returning the province to normalcy. The implied task given to us by Alastair was to ensure we would not give the public any reason to support the men of violence. When on the streets we were to be smart, courteous and at all times be firm, fair and efficient, setting the standard for others.

A serious incident usually involved the company commander getting on the ground to sort out the response and follow up. The RUC would invariably turn up and liaison with them was crucial. Alastair, keenly aware that his commanders needed to get on with their jobs whilst not displacing the RUC, had a strategy of deploying with his small rover group, 8 of us, usually in 2 Snatch Land Rovers, so he could effectively manage the interface with the police, which he did with consummate skill.

Sometimes I thought we got a little too involved in the action. In North Belfast there had been a nail bomb attack on an A Company patrol. The patrol had gone firm, and were consolidating the position when petrol bombs began to be thrown. I had to caution Alastair that we were a little too far forward when the petrol bombs were landing behind us. Alastair chuckling, like a schoolboy, as we ran back through the flames.

When a device was exploded at the gate of the Convent on the Falls Road LCpl Paul Shirt took some shrapnel to both his legs, he was evacuated back to North Howard Street Mill our security force base. Alastair dealt with the RUC and press, and a swift follow up by the troops on the ground resulted in the capture and arrest of the perpetrators.

Once back at the Mill we went straight to see Cpl Shirt who was receiving medical attention. As they removed his boots loose shrapnel fell to the floor, he had multiple entry wounds below his knees. Alastair was concerned that Cpl Shirt should speak to his wife in Osnabruck to let her know he was safe and well cared for. Telephones at each end were made available immediately.

Alastair’s quiet smile appeared as he was talking to the injured man. The empathy between Commanding Officer and soldier was palpable. Suddenly young Shirt started to apologise for getting wounded, it was evident that he had it in his mind he had let his CO down, which was of course nonsense. It struck me then, more than ever, what great loyalty Alastair evoked.

There is much more I could tell you about the tour but it is safe to say his overriding personal mission was to bring everybody back safe and sound, and near misses aside, he achieved that and the award of the OBE was testament to his exceptional leadership… he did say it stood for Other Buggers Efforts, as always praising his officers and soldiers… but it was him that led the Battalion to excel.

At the end of the Belfast tour I handed over as RSM. We then had a hectic period of re-rolling to Armoured Infantry and preparing for the UN tour to Bosnia.

I deployed with B Company and did not see so much of him in Bosnia as we were in different locations. On visits to Battalion HQ at Vitez, I did pop in to see him. From the start he was frustrated with the limitations of the UN mandate. He was determined not to allow these limitations to put his soldiers in needless danger or to stop his battalion protecting people from being subjected to unimaginable brutality.

This quote from his obituary in the Telegraph best sums it up:

"In this dangerous environment, at great risk to himself, Alastair Duncan sought out the commanders of the belligerents in an attempt to broker a truce. In June, he was instrumental in the rescue of 200 Croats who had sought sanctuary from a violent attack in a monastery at Guca Gora. The citation for the award to Duncan of the Distinguished Service Order paid tribute to his courage, resolution and inspired leadership which, it stated, had saved many lives and had helped 1 PWO to win an outstanding reputation."

The tour did have its lighter moments. An out-going UN commander, the French Lt Gen Phillippe Morillion, arrived early to give a farewell address. Beating Alastair to the parade ground, he was greeted by RSM Andy Adair, and almost immediately began his address. The assembled troops had not completed forming up at open order and the general salute of present arms was not given as had been intended at the general’s arrival.

After the General’s address Alastair, having arrived on parade, told the RSM that he was going to give the order to present arms. The RSM pointed out it had not been rehearsed to take place at this point in the parade and that the soldiers would not be expecting it. Alastair responded ‘Don’t worry RSM, it’ll work, I have faith in my soldiers.’ Alastair gave the order, the present was executed perfectly. Alastair smiled broadly as he said au revoir to the departing general.

After Bosnia it was the end of his time in command. We would catch up regularly at Regimental occasions when it was a delight to be with him - the quiet smile - the characteristic sense of fun that was with him always.

When I last saw him it was as Charles has described. It was heart breaking.

A steadfast regimental officer and friend; a distinguished soldier and outstanding commanding officer, who loved his soldiers and was loved in return. Those of us who knew him well have the comfort of our memories of this great man.